St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-07-16

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~. @. KENIZEL, Eater.
COVINGTON. LOUISIANA
HOSTESS AND GUEST.
The Duties q tAe Former 40 - 0saiee-
eseas n TIE Latter.
A home Of ones own implies many
privileges and rights. chief among
which is the opportunity Of dispensing
hospitality with gracious generosity
and winning tact Only the churiish
and the selfish prefer to close the gates
If the home, like . medieval castle or
an Oriental 1enana. refusing to let
them swing wide that dear and well
come friends may pass within. bring
ing smiles and sunshine. n they are to
receive the best the home can give.
Among the pleasant associations which
some households treasure q beyond
price are the recollections OF guests
who have from season to season been
entertained At the table and by the fire.
side. We all know houses where it 10
. delight to visit, to which IN invita-
ton il an honor. from which We return
tn the world heartened for its labors
and fearless of its cares. And every
home has its red-letter list on which
some names stand higher than others.
representing the guests who left regret
behind them when they had to say
good-by-the guests one would fain
have kept longer. If only one could
have persuaded them from other en-
gagements, the dear guests who must
come again.
A successful visit implies the under
standing and acceptance Of certain Gov
ditions on the part of both guest ana
hostess. The duties IS well IS the pleas
ures Of the situation are reciprocal.
Perhaps the first, - it il the manifest
duty VI the hostess. Is 70 see that her
guests physical comfort is in every way
secured. The guest-chamber may or
may not be elegantly appointed. 50 far
~ curtains, draperies. lace and embroid-
cred spreads arc concerned. These adj
juncts Of luxury are merely adventurous,
and sometimes they convey . promise
to the eye which is broken in the daily
and nightly experience.
The bed on which the friend il to re-
pose should be one to solicit sleep. 50
perfect should it be cleanliness. in daint-
mess, in common-sense making. The
mattress should he in order. not 50 worn
that, like IN undulating landscape. it's
al hills and hollows. The pillows
should be of shape and size to rest the
head, neither so large and cumbrous
that one can not arrange them conven-
iently. nor so much like japanese
bolster that Japanese education would
Be necessary to their agreeable use.
Above al. the pillows should not be COM
posed offeathers partly cured and emit
ting odors decidedly not Of Araby the
blest. when their victim woos reluctant
slumber.
Care should be exercised rs to the
manner in which the blanket, If it he
double. is disposed upon the bed. The
doubled side should 60 to the foot, 50
that if the heat Of the night require that
half the covering be thrown OF. the
guest may easily arrange it to suit her.
self. At al seasons. in summer rs we'll
rs 1t other times. there should be avail
able extra bed-coverings in the room,
accessible to the guest We have known
. lady. entertained with lavish kindness
in . palatial home, to be 30 chilly
through IN early autumn night that
she was compelled to pile on the too
thinly covered couch not only her
ordinary clothing. but her ulster and
waterproof, only thus gaining sufficient
warmth for sleep. Just here let me say
that while to some persons linen sheets
are = luxury. to others they are abso-
lutely repellent with their slippery cold
ness. and no one should ever be obliged
to sleep between them II he or she b.
longs to the latter minority. It il well
to inquire Of the guest about this.
Abundance Of water. snap. fresh
towels and plenty of them. pins. a but
tOn-hook, . drawer or two for use,
closet shelves and nails. whisk broom.
an easy rocker or other rest-inviting
chair. small table or desk with writing
materials. and few agreeable books.
should furnish the gnest-ohamber. Let
the guest know how she can commune
cate with the hostess If illness or fright
disturb her in the night II is easy to
saw that nervous invalids should stay ut
home; but the most nervous invalid is
less likely to nerd an attention between
midnight and dawn IL she knows pre-
cisely how she can call assistance
should il become imperative.
One thing more. Be sure there arc
matches in the room. and in con-
venient place.
On the guests part there should b
At least . lady-like appreciation Of .
pretty room. which ought not to be
thrown into needless disorder BY heed
less use. Thcdainty belongings ofyour
friends rooms should Be cared for
while Won are in her house.
The hostess. II she have little children.
no matter how beautiful and well be-
haved. should be careful that they arr
not SO much with the guest that they
weary her. The most cherubic little
ones may annoy . person who is not
their mother. and the most amiabls
woman in the world may prefer not to
have her gown rumpled BY little climb
ers who precipitate themselves unasked
into her lap-not to have her face COW
ercxl with kisses n sticky q they are